Springfield saves Falcons from loss

LA CRESCENTA — Justin Springfield was the most valuable runner on the track when the Crescenta Valley High track and field team hosted Burbank in the Pacific League opener.

The senior sprinted his way to two individual first-place finishes and led the 400 and 1,600 relay teams to top finishes as well Thursday.

The Falcons boys needed every point as they tied the Bulldogs, 68-68.

Springfield took first in all four of his events, starting with the 100 and 200-meter races, which he won in 11.1 and 22.9 seconds, respectively.

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"[Springfield] is a great kid and a real competitor," Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans said. "He always competes really well and is really important to us."

The sprinter teamed with William Wang, James Maturan and Han Lim in the 400-meter relay (44.7) before capping the day with another first-place showing in the 1,600 relay (3:34.5) alongside Matt Williams, Nick Beatty and Alex Damla.

Springfield was happy to just soak in the moment.

"I just love the energy of it all, having people cheer each other on," Springfield said. "I don't care if you're in or out of the race everyone just loves each other, that's what I like coming out here for."

Mike Duncan and Josh Straschewski were responsible for the Falcons' (0-2-1, 0-0-1 in league) two other wins on the track in the 800 (2:01.4) and 100 high hurdles (15.1), respectively.

Burbank was able to overcome Springfield's dominance and force a draw by dominating the field, winning four of the six events.

"I really don't know what went on out there [in the field events]," said Evans, who had wins from Thomas Hwang in the high jump (5 feet 8 inches) and Tyler Bradshaw in the pole vault (12-6).

It was the same story on the girls' side, as the Bulldogs won five in the field en route to an 83-52 victory.

"The girls were a little thin," Evans said. "We've got some injuries and we don't have a lot of depth. We just tried to move people around and get the points where we can and I think we competed pretty well."

Cali King and Brooke Moultrie were the big winners on the day for CV, as they were victorious in the 1,600 (5:27) and 3,200 (11:55.6), respectively, and were the first two out the gate for the 1,600 relay team, which finished first in 4:10.5.

Crescenta Valley, which fell to 0-3 overall and in league, got its remaining victories from Cayleigh Carrillo in the 200 (25.7), Hannah Ruby in the 800 (2:28.6), Claudia Sepulveda in the 300 low hurdles (48.1) and Emily Beglarian in the high jump (4-10).